. >> reporter: this is one of the 12 homes that law enforcement here in pearl river county says were completely wiped out by this tornado on christmas day. at this particular home here in the mcneil area, this is what's left of the slab, this is what's left of the wall, and this is what's left of this family's life. and the damage trail extends half a mile on this property off highway 11, the front and back of this custom antebellum home gone but the homeowner says lives are more important. tell me how you feel when you look at your house. >> kind of bad but everybody's safe. and hey, the lord is on our side. we good to go. >> reporter: y'all were all home? >> yes. my wife and my daughter-in-law and two of the grandkids were there and my son and i were 100 yards on the other side over here. >> reporter: did you see it? >> yeah. we seen it happening kind of so... >> reporter: what do you do when you see a tornado coming towards your house? >> nothing. you just hope. hid our heads and hope for the best. but nope, everybody's good. >> reporter: for those who were inside the house, what